Center-plate for railway-cars



V 0. BRADLEY, Jr. Center-Plate for Railway-Cars.

No. 225,332] Patented ar. 9, 1880.

.wi'b nesges Ini/enfow N-PETER", PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGYON. D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSGOOD BRADLEY, JR, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CENTER-PLATE FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,332, dated March 9,1880. Application filed November 8, 1879. I i

new and useful Improvements in Center-Plates for Railway-Cars; and Ideclare the following to be a'description of my said inventionsufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, andin which-'- Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved cen-terplatewith portions of the bolster-beam and continuous draw-bar. Fig. 2 is afront view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thecenter-plate.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction ofcenter-plates for railroadcars with a view to provide a center-platedevice more perfectly adapted to service, for giving a strong anddurable connection between the car-body and truck, and at the same timefurnishing a suitable support and guide for the continuous draw-bar. Iattain these objects by the mechanism herein illustrated and described.i

In the drawings, A denotes the bolsterbeam upon which the body of thecar is supported, said beam being attached thereto in the ordinarymanner.

B indicates the continuous draw-bar extending along the under side ofthe car, and connecting the coupling-heads at its opposite ends; and 0indicates the center-plate casting for retaining and centrally pivotingthe wheeltruck. Said casting O is made with a rectangular seat-plate orsquare'flat portion, 0, upon which the bolster-beam A is bedded, andthrough which the retaining-bolts a at are arranged, as indicated, whileat the front and rear edges of said rectangular portion the flange orprojecting part of the plate is carried downward'in a broad loop orcircular bend, D, so as to form across the central top part of the platea groove or channel of a size just sufficient to receive and closelyembrace the continuous draw-bar B, and within which said draw-bar issupported and guided, so that only a longitudinal movement of the bar ispermitted.

At the central part of the casting G, below the rectangular seat plate,is a hollow hub or boss extending downward sufficiently far to form anabutment for the loops D, and provided at its lower part with an annularshoulder, G which matches into the under-plate (not shown) and aroundwhich the truck swings. The king l bolt or connecting -pin passes downthrough the opening at the cen ter, itshead resting in the cavity 0formed at the interior of the boss for its reception, so that the headof the bolt will lie below the draw-bar B.

By making the center-plate in the form shown a very strong and desirableconnection is produced, giving a broad seat for the bol- I ster beam,convenient arrangement of the holding -bolts, compactness and strengthin the construction, and at the same time providing a very perfectsupport and guide for the draw-bar, and a bearing therefor which is notliable to cut or rapidly wear into the metal of the bar by the effect ofthe constant jar and grit to which the parts are subjected when in use.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The center plate hereinbefore described, composed of the rectangular bedportion haw ing front and rear bends or loops, D, and the central hollowboss having the annular shoulder 0 and inner recess 0 as and for thepurposes set forth.

Witness my hand this 4th day of November, A. D. 1879.

OSGOOD BRADLEY, J R. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, J. A. Bron.

